Partizansk, Russia; July 23 (RFE/RL) -- More than 3,000 miners walked off the job in Russia's Far East today, protesting unpaid back wages.

Primorskugol (Maritime Coal) company management said coal production at its five mines in the town of Partizansk had stopped. Itar-Tass quoted Primorskugol deputy director Pyotr Khaspekov, who said there was nothing he could say to the miners, who have not been paid for five months.

Khaspekov said the federal government owes the miners thousands of millions of rubles, without which Primorskugol cannot pay its striking miners.

Strikes and rallies have continued in Partizansk for more than a week.